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Genital Herpes
Genital Herpes Information
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that may cause the patient to experience outbreaks of itchy, painful sores in the genital area. Not all people infected with genital herpes will experience these outbreaks, and some may experience such a mild case that they may not know that they have the virus.
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After an outbreak, the virus may stay under the skin in the nerve cells and become inactive. The virus may become active again as a result of stress, lowered immune system response, triggers or menstruation.
Over time, outbreaks may become less frequent, heal quicker and become less painful. Genital herpes is spread through herpes simplex 1 or herpes simplex 2. Either virus may cause sores on the lips or genital area, but herpes simplex 1 may cause sores on the lips more often and herpes simplex 2 may cause sores on the genitals more often.
A person may be at a high risk of genital herpes if the person has more than one sex partner, has a sexual partner that has more than one sex partner, has a weak immune system, has sex without a condom, has sex before the age of 18 or is a female. Symptoms of genital herpes may include itchy blisters on the penis or around the opening of the vagina.
Some people may experience muscle aches, fever and headache. Others may experience a discharge and pain during urination. Still, others may not have any symptoms or the symptoms may be so mild that they go unnoticed.
Medicine may be helpful in relieving the pain caused by the sores and may help the sores heal faster. Some patients may take medicine everyday to limit the number of outbreaks. Certain remedies are known to limit viral activity as well, such as lysine, lemon balm, and other anti-viral treatments.
Many patients may only experience a few outbreaks in a lifetime, while others may experience 4 to 6 outbreaks each year. After a few years, the number of outbreaks may decrease.
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Over time, outbreaks may become less frequent, heal quicker and become less painful. Genital herpes is spread through herpes simplex 1 or herpes simplex 2. Either virus may cause sores on the lips or genital area, but herpes simplex 1 may cause sores on the lips more often and herpes simplex 2 may cause sores on the genitals more often.
A person may be at a high risk of genital herpes if the person has more than one sex partner, has a sexual partner that has more than one sex partner, has a weak immune system, has sex without a condom, has sex before the age of 18 or is a female. Symptoms of genital herpes may include itchy blisters on the penis or around the opening of the vagina.
Some people may experience muscle aches, fever and headache. Others may experience a discharge and pain during urination. Still, others may not have any symptoms or the symptoms may be so mild that they go unnoticed.
Medicine may be helpful in relieving the pain caused by the sores and may help the sores heal faster. Some patients may take medicine everyday to limit the number of outbreaks. Certain remedies are known to limit viral activity as well, such as lysine, lemon balm, and other anti-viral treatments.
Many patients may only experience a few outbreaks in a lifetime, while others may experience 4 to 6 outbreaks each year. After a few years, the number of outbreaks may decrease.
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